I added some swags to the bottom of my pajaki, and I'm going to call it "done for now." As you can see, I used more of the pompoms and the tissue and construction paper discs, as well as paper-covered straw sections, and rolled paper "beads." Here's how to make the paper-covered straw pieces. First, grab a handful of drinking straws from an unattended concession counter at a movie theater.

Cut the straws into sections. I cut each one into five roughly equal lengths. Cut a rectangle from tissue paper that's about the same width as a straw section but a big longer than it is wide. Spread glue stick on the upper half of the rectangle. Place the straw section in the middle, then roll and press the two halves of the paper together around the straw.

Cut the paper edge with pinking shears. Shredding scissors would make for great fringe, here; unfortunately, I don't own a pair.

For plain, cylindrical "straws," I used tissue paper. Use a round, untapered pencil for this. I have a skinny pencil that works perfectly. Cut a rectangle of tissue paper that's about as wide as the pencil is long, and 4 or 5 inches tall. Spread glue stick onto the top inch or two of the rectangle. Place the pencil along the bottom edge, and roll it up in the paper.

Push the pencil out of the cylinder, eraser-end first. Cut the tube into whatever lengths you desire.

Thread a yarn needle with a length of cord. Mine was about 2.5 feet, and I had plenty of excess for tying. Clip the other end with a binder clip to act as a stopper. String your elements on the cord in a pattern. Repeat this twice to make three roughly equal strands. Tie each end to a corner of the hexagon. (I tied the second end two corners away from the first.)

I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, though I can see myself adding more elements in the coming weeks, just to make it look fuller and richer. It will be my chromotherapy for the winter months.​xo